BATON ROUGE — Attorney General Charles Foti Friday said Friday morning
his office would not issue a legal opinion as to whether former U.S. Sen. John
Breaux is citizen of Louisiana and therefore eligible to be governor.
“Due
to the restrictions imposed by law as well as this office’s policies and
historical practice, I must refrain from rendering an opinion on the ultimate
issue of whether Mr. Breaux meets the qualifications to become a candidate in
the governor’s race,” Foti wrote in an opinion released at 11:30.

And then…

The attorney general will have no further comment, as is his policy
when issuing opinions, said Kris Wartelle, his spokesperson.
University
of Louisiana-Lafayette political scientist Pearson Cross said he’s not
surprised by Foti’s decision not to take a stance on this issue.
“A
decision that favored or a decision against Breaux would be placing the
attorney general’s head in a noose, to be strung up by one side or the
other,” Cross said, noting that Foti is running for re-election in the
Oct. 20 primary. “Why make enemies if the opinion you are going to issue
would be a non-binding one anyway?” Cross said.
“Foti
did the politically smart thing,” Cross said.

Zero surprise
in this one – Foti really has a buffet of poor options in front of him
politically.  If only Katrina missed Louisiana – none of this would be
happening.

Lots of “if
only’s”.

Read all
about it here.